Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Virgil van Dijk, extensively considered one of many high defenders of latest years, performed an important position in Liverpool‘s 2018-19 UEFA Champions League and 2019-20 Premier League titles and continues to intention for extra success together with his workforce. Regardless of his accolades, Van Dijk center-back was humble in his reward for one in every of Arsenal’s rising defensive stars.
On talks with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, van Dijk was requested to call a defender at the moment excelling within the sport, and he didn’t hesitate to decide on Arsenal’s William Saliba: “Saliba is making superb steps in the meanwhile, he’s a stable one, in possession he’s doing a very good job… You recognize, I believe if I’m trustworthy, once I was that age, I used to be nowhere close to the place he was in the present day.
Van Dijk went on to debate how learning elite defenders helps him proceed bettering his personal sport. “I like to look at different defenders and decide up so many things from them. There’s so many good ball taking part in within the heart half… I undoubtedly watch video games specifically on the very best degree. You may all the time decide up sure issues, but additionally take into account that groups are defending otherwise that we’re defending, so it’s important to preserve that in thoughts too,” Van Dijk mentioned.
Regardless of his achievements, together with profitable PFA Gamers’ Participant of the 12 months, Premier League Participant of the Season, and even competing with Lionel Messi for the Ballon d’Or, van Dijk emphasised the significance of ongoing development. “I really feel like at any age you may continue learning, and I undoubtedly nonetheless try this,” he ended.
Saliba was signed to be a part of a younger challenge led by supervisor Mikel Arteta in Arsenal. Regardless of being Premier League’s runners-up final season, the Frenchman might be trying ahead to maintain surprising followers and gamers together with his performances.
Saliba’s exceptional type with Arsenal
Saliba has been pivotal in Arsenal’s resurgence below supervisor Mikel Arteta. Integral to the 2023-24 marketing campaign, the younger center-back featured in 50 of Arsenal’s 52 video games, turning into the first Arsenal participant within the Premier League period to play each minute of a league season.
His spectacular type earned him a spot within the PFA Premier League Group of the 12 months alongside teammate Martin Ødegaard. Additionally, at simply 23, Saliba has already set data with the Gunners, turning into the quickest participant in membership historical past to achieve 50 Premier League wins, reaching the feat in solely 66 appearances.
Loading…
